The McAfee Mobile research team has identified a new threat to Android users in the form of Xamalicious malware, which hides in more than a dozen applications.
The Xamalicious malware was discovered in 25 different apps across various categories, including gaming, health, horoscopes, and productivity. Although Google quickly removed some of these apps from the Play Store, a large number of them are still available on third-party Android application stores, which puts users at risk.
Xamalicious malware uses social engineering tactics to gain access privileges to users’ devices without their knowledge. Once these privileges are obtained, the infected device communicates with a command and control server, resulting in the download of a second payload. This second payload then takes full control of the device, which may result in malicious actions such as clicking on ads, installing apps, and other activities with financial gain, all without user consent.
Also read – Android: this dangerous spyware targets users of two messaging applications
What are dangerous apps to uninstall quickly?
If you have already installed one of the infected applicationsit is essential to uninstall it immediately to prevent your device from falling victim to this malware. Here is the list of 13 applications removed from the Google Play Store:
- Essential Horoscope for Android – 100,000 downloads
- 3D Skin Editor for PE Minecraft – 100,000 downloads
- Logo Maker Pro – 100,000 downloads
- Auto Click Repeater – 10,000 downloads
- Count Easy Calorie Calculator – 10,000 downloads
- Sound Volume Extender – 5,000 downloads
- LetterLink – 1,000 downloads
- NUMEROLOGY: PERSONAL HOROSCOPE & NUMBER PREDICTIONS – 1,000 downloads
- Step Keeper: Easy Pedometer – 500 downloads
- Track Your Sleep – 500 downloads
- Sound Volume Booster – 100 downloads
- Astrological Navigator: Daily Horoscope and Tarot – 100 downloads
- Universal Calculator – 100 downloads
As you will have understood, the seriousness of this threat is clear: three of these apps have been installed over 100,000 times each, and two of them have been installed over 10,000 times. To protect your device, carefully check the installed apps against the list provided. If one of the titles mentioned is present, we can only advise you to Uninstall the app immediately to protect yourself from Xamalicious malware.